It's probably about time

[channel12]

This Saturday just gone (6th April) were the last two matches of the CSR Winter League and since the first match last October I've put around 800 rounds through my rifle. I think therefore it's probably about time that I cleaned the barrel. The only cleaning its had over the season has been to wipe any mud off the outside (have you been forward of 200 yards of butt 19 on Century in the winter?) and perhaps stand it in the airing cupboard to dry off if it's been out in the rain.

I know some you like to clean your rifle every time you shoot but after 800 rounds I haven't noticed any loss of accuracy it still groups the same as it did at the first match.

The other thing is that I always take the scope off because the rifle fits the cabinet easier without it. No problem with loss of zero because the La Rue mount always goes back in exactly the same place.

So maybe everything you've been told isn't necessarily right?

[Dougan]

Huh!?...what, not even a dry patch to clear the loose crud?

What rifle, caliber and type of bullet are you using?

[Hauptman]

Perhaps a tight fitting lump of copper jacketed lead travelling at 800-900 metres/sec does a pretty good job of removing any loose stuff.................

H/Man

[Dougan]

Perhaps a tight fitting lump of copper jacketed lead travelling at 800-900 metres/sec does a pretty good job of removing any loose stuff.................

H/Man

Absolutely; and I don't clean my small bore or lever action rifles very often on that basis - but they are shooting lead, where as I suspect we are talking about .223 jacketed bullets here...which is interesting as it goes against popular practice, which is why I asked...

...also, though I don't know much about those uncouth black rifles ( ), I understand that they can sometimes be a bit finicky about ammo and feeding and extraction, so was curious as to which specific rifle it was; as it must be reliable...

[channel12]

Huh!?...what, not even a dry patch to clear the loose crud?

What rifle, caliber and type of bullet are you using?

1) no

2) AR-15, 5.56mm, 62g FMJ GGG (Lithuanian)

No problems with feeding or extraction, Mr Bradley builds an exceeding good straight pull

[Dougan]

I'm not convinced about not cleaning the barrel...

...but am impressed by the reliability of the action (for a straight-pull...no offence intended) for those courses of fire in those conditions...

[ovenpaa]

Interesting. I spent a fair amount of time one year with a 7,62x51 Accuracy International testing to see at what stage accuracy fell off and found that by 140-170 Danish military rounds I was loosing a fair amount at 600m. I will see if I can find the paper on it if only to remind myself.

[channel12]

Interesting. I spent a fair amount of time one year with a 7,62x51 Accuracy International testing to see at what stage accuracy fell off and found that by 140-170 Danish military rounds I was loosing a fair amount at 600m. I will see if I can find the paper on it if only to remind myself.

Dave, somebody has started the same topic over on the csr forum. General opinion is that cleaning is over rated.

[ovenpaa]

C12, I have not logged in today, I will go and have a look.

Christel shoots a Schultz & Larsen 6,5x284 and we discussed the cleaning of it with the owner of the company. I mentioned the rifle always seemed to leave a slight grey residue on the patches and he had a right hissy fit at me and told me he did not care what I did to other peoples rifles but I was not to put any copper stripping products near the barrel of his rifle for at least 2000 rounds. Apparently the bore is tapered and the prescribed cleaning process was a gun oil and clean patches and NOTHING MORE (Yes he was nigh on shouting at that stage...)

Back to my AI, accuracy did seem to wander off a bit with the ammunition I was shooting and an overnight clean did make a noticeable difference and the tets groups had less flyers the following day.

I did give the same rifle a very thorough copper strip three months ago and I could certainly see the difference at 1000 yards next time out.

[John MH]

The other thing is that I always take the scope off because the rifle fits the cabinet easier without it. No problem with loss of zero because the La Rue mount always goes back in exactly the same place.

I saw your LaRue mount on Saturday, is it that good? :roll: